Universal Studios Hollywood logo dissected

Universal Studios Hollywood's latest logo aims to cement the destination's five-year transformation. We critique it from three perspectives.

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As part of a five-year transformation that's seen 75 per cent of its theme park completely redeveloped, Universal Studios Hollywood recently unveiled an updated logo design, created by the team at Struck.

We asked three creatives - including Struck's own creative director, for their thoughts on the new design. Here's what they had to say…

A complete overhaul

Struck's Scott Sorenson says: "Knowing we wanted to utilise the updated Universal globe, and eliminate the unnecessary ring around the previous version of the globe, we explored two principal directions: an evolution of the previous type story and a complete overhaul of the same.

"For the evolution, we researched historical typefaces and modern throwbacks before ultimately landing on a custom typeface that sits somewhere between the golden age of Hollywood and the art deco period. While cleaner and more legible, it still retains some of the legacy of the previous mark."

Bring back the black

"The use of a computer generated globe says to me that Universal Studios is embracing new methods, while the Universal text staying in a similar style shows that it's not losing touch with tradition," observes web developer George W. Langham.

"My major problem with the design is the removal of the black background – it feels like this was a key part of the meaning of the brand as the black implied that inky vastness of space, and tied into the name of the brand in an emotive way. The rest of it is really, really cool: not so different as to be jarring and also more modern and contemporary."

Langham is not impressed by the removal of the black background seen in the previous logo design

Contemporary with high definition finish

Creative director at True Story Eric Wagner says: "In Universal Studios' iconic logo animation, the word 'Universal' dynamically circles planet Earth. The logo for Universal Studios' theme park is a static variation of that animation, and this latest update walks the fine line of looking contemporary with high definition finishes while evoking the romance of historic Hollywood.

"However, something is off about the construction. The longer line of type has been flattened to maintain legibility, but the forced perspective on the extrusions is trying to overcompensate, and the vanishing point seems to be near the South Pole. It can't decide whether it's wrapping the globe or not."